The Role of the Arts in Building the 21st Century American Workforce
11.29.2008Arts seen as key to workers who are "ready to innovate."
U.S. employers have rated creativity/innovation among the top five skills that will be in high demand during the next five years, and ranked it among the top challenges facing CEOs.
But, are the arts being connected to creativity?
"Ready to Innovate," a new study conducted by the Conference Board, Americans for the Arts, and the American Association of School Administrators provides the first research-based evidence that shows the answer is "yes."
Business leaders identified "arts-related study in college" and "self-employed work" as the top two indicators of creativity, while school superintendents ranked arts degree study as the highest indicator of creativity.
Yet, the study also reveals that fewer than 10 percent of companies provide creativity training to all their employees, and school superintendents provide arts classes primarily on an elective basis.
The report offers this promising conclusion: "...both sectors see involvement in the arts and other work experience as markers of creativity...it is clear that the arts — music, creative writing, drawing, dance — provide skills sought by employers of the third millennium."
For more information, click here:
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/go/policyroundtablewww.AmericansForTheArts.org/go/policyroundtable
